|
Ships on Lake Erie
would need permit
08/15/07 COLUMBUS - Ohio would be empowered to regulate the
discharge of ballast water from oceangoing ships into portions of Lake Erie
under state control under a bill to be introduced today in the Ohio House.
Designed to compensate for a lack of federal action to control
the spread of exotic invasive species like the zebra mussel, the bill would
require the state Department of Natural Resources to develop a permitting and
ship inspection system.
The move follows the lead of Michigan, which enacted similar
legislation that took effect
Jan. 1. Ohio's bill, to be introduced by Rep.
Mike Skindell (D., Lakewood) would require Ohio to act on its own while
simultaneously working with other Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces to
develop a uniform standard for the entire lake.
Mr. Skindell is following through with a promise made at a
press conference last month with the bipartisan backing of U.S. Sens. George
Voinovich and Sherrod Brown.
The bill would require oceanic ships that discharge and take on
water to stabilize their weight as they load and unload cargo at Ohio ports to
first receive a state permit. To get the permit they would have to either
promise not to discharge ballast water or do so only when using technology or
methods preventing the introduction of invasive organisms carried from foreign
ports.
The Zebra mussel, for instance, has been found to clog water
intake pipes from Lake Erie.
Fines of at least $25,000 would be imposed for each violation
with the proceeds being used to fund pest cleanup and prevention efforts.
The Ohio General Assembly is currently in summer recess and
won't return to Columbus until mid-September at the
earliest.
Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com. |